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Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Trustee Council
Note: Picture not current
Overview
The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council was formed to oversee restoration of the injured ecosystem through the use of the $900 million criminal settlement. The Council consists of three state and three federal trustees. They are:
- Membership
-
| James Balsiger |
Director, Alaska Regional National
Marine Fisheries Service |
| Michele Brown |
Commissioner, Alaska Dept. of
Environmental Conservation |
| Dave Gibbons |
Supervisor, Chugach National Forest, US
Forest Service |
| Drue Pearce |
Senior Advisor to the Secretary, US
Dept. of Interior |
| Frank Rue |
Commissioner, Alaska Dept. of Fish and
Game |
| Graig Tillery |
Asst. Attorney General, Alaska Dept of
Law |
The Trustee Council adopted a Restoration Plan in 1994 after an extensive public process that included meetings in 22 spill-area communities as well as in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. More than 2,000 people participated in the meetings or sent in written comments.
Reimbursements.
As part of the settlement agreement, $173.2 million went to reimburse the federal and state governments for costs incurred conducting spill response, damage
assessment, and litigation. Another $39,9 million went to reimburse Exxon for cleanup work that took place after the civil settlement was reached.
The remaining funds were dedicated to implementation of the Restoration Plan, which consists of five parts:
- Part 1: Research and Monitoring
- Surveys and other monitoring of fish and wildlife in the spill region provide basic information to determine population trends, productivity, and health.
Research increases our knowledge about the biological needs of individual species and how each contributes to the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem. Research also provides new information and better tools for effective management of fish and wildlife populations.
- Part 2: General Restoration
- This category includes projects to protect archeological resources, improve subsistence resources, enhance salmon
streams, reduce marine pollution, and restore damaged habitats.
- Part 3: Habitat Protection
- Protection of habitat helps prevent additional
injury to species due to intrusive development or loss of habitat. The Trustee Council accomplishes this by providing funds to government agencies to acquire title or conservation easements on land
important for its restoration value.
- Part 4: Restoration Reserve
- This savings account was established in recognition that full recovery from the oil spill would not occur for decades. The reserve fund will support long-term restoration activities after the final
payment is received from Exxon in September 2001. The reserve is expected to be worth approximately $140 million by that time.
- Part 5: Science Management. Public Information & Administration
- This component of the budget includes management of the annual work plan and habitat programs, scientific oversight of research, monitoring and restoration projects,
agency coordination, and overall administrative costs. It also includes
the cost of public meetings, newsletters and other means of disseminating information to the public.
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